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Mayo Clinic Subsidy Shrinks in Minn. House Plan

Posted at: 04/15/2013 7:13 PM
Updated at: 04/15/2013 8:57 PM

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - Minnesota House Democrats want to trim the state's contribution to a Mayo Clinic expansion proposal by about $200 million from an original request of about $500 million from the Rochester healthcare giant.

Under the revised proposal released Monday as part of a larger House tax bill, about $300 million from Minnesota taxpayers would go toward building public infrastructure to support Mayo's planned $3.5 billion expansion of its Rochester campus. Mayo officials predict it will generate an additional $2 billion in private investment.

Taxpayers in Rochester and surrounding Olmsted County would be responsible for more than double the total cost compared what was proposed originally. Elected officials would be able to choose from a menu of tax increases on lodging, food and beverage, entertainment and recreation facilities, transit, and vehicle wheelage to help pay a local share of at least $128 million and as much as $247 million.

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